Road scraper



Jan. 12, 1937. F H BEACH H 2,067,374

ROAD S CRAP ER Filed Dec. 10. 1935 I 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 M Q ,6 I A llorneyS' Jan. 12, 1937. F. H. BEACH'ET AL ROAD SCRAPER Filed D80. 10, 1935 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 lnvenlors ffl aa M .235 39a 61% 4/ v By W 5 AHomeyS o t O wig.

ROAD SCRAPER Filed Dec. 10, 1955 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 Inventors Q o jean/z M \E o 2 f 56 0672 By Q40. @0152. M g A llomgps Jan. 12, 1937. F. H. BEACH ET AL ROAD SCRAPER Filed D86. 10, 1935 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 fi Attorneys! Patented Jan. 12, 1937 ENT OFFICE ROAD SCRAPER Fitch H. Beach and Fred S. Beach, Charlotte, Mich.

Application December 10, 1935, Serial No. 53,813

3 Claims.

This invention relates to road scrapers or devices for maintaining in good condition the surfaces of dirt, gravel or stone roads.

In accordance with the present invention a device is provided which will positively and effectively remove the so-called chatter bumps or small holes as well as the bumps or rises from the ordinary dirt, gravel or stone roads; and which at the same time will prove very advantageous in removing ice from concrete roads.

More particularly, the invention is concerned with a novel and effective scarifier and smoothing blade arrangement whereby the results desired in maintaining road surfaces are effectively 5 obtained.

The invention together with its objects and advantages will be best understood from a study of the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein:

Figure l is a top plan View of one form of road scraper supporting the features of the present invention.

Figure 2 is a front elevation view thereon.

Figures 3 and 5 are detailed views taken substantially on the lines 3-3 and 5-5 respectively of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a perspective view of a cutting or scarifier blade.

Figure 6 is a front elevational view of a slight- 30 ly modified form of the invention and illustrating the application of the invention to a. conventional grader.

Figure '7 is a detailed View taken substantially on the line i-'! of Figure 6.

Figure 8 is a detailed view taken substantially on the line 88 of Figure 6.

Figure 9 is a top plan view of a blade supporting plate.

Figure 10 is a front elevational View of the 40 blade supporting plate.

Figure 11 is a fragmentary detailed sectional view through a blade supporting plate and a blade and illustrating a slightly modified means for securing the blade to the plate.

45 Figure 12 is a front elevational view of the blade supporting plate shown in Figure 11.

Figure 13 is an enlarged sectional view through a blade supporting plate and blades carried thereby and illustrating still another form 50 of the invention.

Figure 14 is a perspective view of a slightly modified form of cutting or scraper blade.

Referring more in detail to the drawings it will be seen that in all forms thereof the in- 55 vention consists essentially of what may be termed a mold board plate, the same, in a form of the invention illustrated in Figures 1 to 5 inclusive being indicated by the reference numeral l and in the form of the invention illustrated in Figures 6 to 8 inclusive by the reference numeral la; a blade carrying plate which may be of one single length corresponding to the length of a mold board plate, shown for example in a form of the invention shown in Figures 1 to 5 inclusive and therein designated by 10 the reference numeral 2, or said carrying plate may be in the form of a plurality of relatively short sections as illustrated with reference to each of the forms of the invention shown in Figures 6 to 10 inclusive and in which figures each 15 section of the blade carrying plate is indicated by the reference numeral 3; a suitable bracket or blade attaching structure carried by each of the blade supporting plates, and hereinafter more fully referred to, a plurality of individual cutting or scarifying blades which may be of any one of several forms which will be hereinafter made manifest; spring straps 4, and a smoothing blade 5 which is preferably of a single length, and of a length corresponding substantially to the length of a mold board.

Referring more in detail to the form of the invention shown in Figures 1 to 5 inclusive, it may be first stated that said form of the invention. is particularly adapted for attachment to motor trucks and consists of the aforementioned mold board plate I which is transversely curved and which has its lower edge portion off-set to provide a groove or seat 6 accommodating the blade carrying plate 2.

The mold board plate I is supported from a shaft 1 through the medium of arms 8 which at one end are secured to the plate I through the medium of bolt and nut means or other fastening devices 9. 0

At their respective free ends the arms 8 which may be of any suitable number have fixed jaws H3 complemental to removable jaws II for securing said arms to the aforementioned shaft 1; bolt and nut means l2 being provided for securing the complemental jaws [0, ll clamped about the aforementioned shaft 7.

Any suitable supporting structure for the shaft 1 for mounting the shaft below the body frame or chassis of a motor truck may be provided.

In the present instance such a supporting structure consists broadly of a bar I3 provided with depending bearings M in which are journaled end portions of the shaft 1 as clearly suggested in Figure 2. The bar [3 is mounted to comprises swing on an arc in a horizontal plane as suggested in Figure 1 through the medium of suitably provided clamps i5 that have engagement with arcuate angle bars I6 suitably mounted at opposite sides of the truck chassis frame. It will be understood that any suitable means may be connected with the bar it for swinging thelatter to the desired angle relative to the path of travel of the truck.

Also for rocking the shaft 7 for swinging the mold board I downwardly to place the blades associated therewith into ground engaging position or upwardly to an out of the way position any suitable means may be provided, as for example, suitably mounted hydraulic jacks ll whose piston rods are suitably connected with crank arms provided adjacent the respective opposite ends of the shaft 7. Since the specific supporting means for the shaft '5, or the means for rocking the shaft is not the essence of the present invention it is thought that a further detailed description thereof is unnecessary.

Referring again to the blade carrying bar 2 it will be seen that the same is provided throughout its lengths, and at spaced intervals with subistantially U-shaped downwardly off-set blade attaching brackets M3 to which are detachably secured the cutting or scarifying blades iii.

In the form of the invention now being described, the brackets l8 are each provided with a centrally located bolt accommodating opening 26 and integral lugs 2! disposed at opposite sides of the opening.

In all forms of the invention each blade iii a substantially rectangular body formed of any suitable material and presenting at one side a transversely curved working surface 22 and at its opposite longitudinal edges face of the blade body being suitably bevelled to provide the said cutting edges 23 and 2 In the form of the invention shown in Figures -1 to 5 inclusive, each blade i9 is secured to its bracket it through the medium of bolt and nut means 25, the bolt having a squared portion 26. accommodated within a squared opening 2'! provided at the center of the blade body as will be observed from a study of Figures 3 and 4.

The blade body is also provided with openings: \28 to accommodate the lugs 29 whereby the blade is positively held on its bracket it against rotative movement.

For following in the path of the blades is, there is provided the aforementioned smoothing blade 5 which is formed from a single oblong sheet of metal or other suitable material and which has secured to its following or rear face through the medium of bolt and nut means 29, one end of the aforementioned straps l.

But two straps t need be employed, and thesel straps as aforementioned are secured to the rear face of the blade l as at 9. V The straps l are substantially U-shaped with the legs or sides of the U longitudinally curved and including a shorter leg which is secured as at 9 to the blade i, and a longer leg which is secured as at 29 to the smoothing blade 5. (See Figure 3.) Thus the strap supports provide a resilient mounting for blade 5 so that in the event a perfectly immovable obstruction is encountered by the blade 5, the same may easily may be readily moved into a position diagonal to the line of draft with the cutting or scarifying blades E9 in the lead followed by the smoothing blade 5.

In actual practice the working or knife edges, in the present instance, the edges 2% of the blades l9 will serve to dig out many of the small stones embedded in the road surface and to cut or peel off the humps or rises in the road surface when the device is used for maintaining in condition the surface of a dirt, gravel or stone road. In this connection it will be also! understood that the dirt and stones loosened and cut from the road surface by the blade l9 will immediately pass between the blade l9 and the next succeeding blade and in turn be smoothed over by the inclined and following smoothing blade 5 to the end that the smooth surface for the road will be finally obtained.

It will be also understood that the device may be used to advantage for removing ice from concrete roads, the blades 19 serving to out the ice from the road surface and the blade 5 serving to direct the loosened ice towards the side of the road bed.

In Figures 6 to 8 there is illustrated an application of the invention to a conventional horsedrawn, truck-drawn or tractor propelled grader of the conventional type now used in road main tenance operations. a

This application of the invention is illustrated with so much of the grader only as believed necessary and as indicated generally by the reference numeral 39.

In applying the invention to the grader 38 the conventional mold board to of the grader is employed. Also, in this form of the invention instead of using a single blade carrying plate, a plate made up of a plurality of sections 3 is resorted to.

The plates 3 at their meeting ends are notched Each of the plate sections 3 is provided with,

in the present instance, two downwardly directed brackets Na and in the form of the invention shown in Figures 6 to 8 blades i9a identical with the herein described blade i9 are provided and are secured to the brackets Illa through the medium of bolts 25a and lugs Zia, carried by said brackets idea and engaging in apertures 2811 provided in the blades 19a.

Also in this form of the invention will there be employed the smoothing blade 5a and the straps 3a which provide the resilient connection between the blade 5a and the mold board Ia.

It is understood that the form of the invention shown in Figures 6 to 8 inclusive will operate in substantially the same manner as the form of the invention as shown in Figures 1 to 5 inclusive and herein described in detail. It is therefore thought that a further detailed description of the invention shown in Figures 6 to 8 would be unnecessary.

In Figure 13 there is illustrated a modified form of the invention wherein is employed a blade carrying plate to which are detachably secured blade attaching brackets 36. Each of the brackets 36 is suitably shaped to dispose a blade |9b diagonally and consists of a diagonally disposed body bar having a relatively long leg at one end and a relatively short leg at its respective opposite end, and which legs at their terminals are provided with outstanding attaching flanges through the medium of which and bolts 31, the bracket 36 is secured to the plate 35.

Also in this form of the invention the blades |9b are secured to the brackets 36 in substantially the same manner as the blades l9 are secured to their brackets with the exception that the bolt 38 is cylindrical throughout its length as is the opening in the blade 91) for accommodating the bolt. The bolt is circular, the square feature of the bolt and bolt accommodating opening as described with reference to blade l9 and bolt 25 being omitted.

In Figures 11, 12, and 14 there is also illustrated. a slightly modified form of attaching a blade 190 to its attaching bracket I80. In this form of the invention the blade I90 is provided with but a pair of circular openings39 and the bracket E80 is also provided with a single pair of circular openings 40 with which register the openings 39 to accommodate the bolts 4| as shown in Figure 11.

From the above it will be apparent that numerous means may be resorted to in the manner of securing a cutting or scarifying blade to its bracket and that said bracket may be secured to the blade carrying plate in any suitable manner either by being integral therewith or by being bolted thereto. Said brackets may be so shaped either to position the blades associated therewith parallel tothe blade carrying plate or at an angle to said blade carrying plate as shown for example in Figure 13 and hereinbefore described in detail.

It will also be noted that in each form of the invention there is provided for the smoothing blade an adjustable spring tension device whereby the tension on the smoothing blade can be increased or diminished as the condition of the road bed may require. This device as clearly illustrated is used in pairs one device of each pair being located adjacent and slightly inwardly from a spring 4 or do. as the case may be.

Said spring tension device in each form of the invention consists of a bolt 40 suitably secured at one end as at i to the plate or la as the case may be and extending rearwardly from said plate through a guide bracket 42 suitably mounted and secured onto the smoothing blade 5 or 5a as the case may be. Disposed about the bolt 40 is atensioning spring 43 one end of which bears against the bracket 42 and the other end of which bears against a washer 44 held in place through the medium of a nut 45 and threaded on the free end of the bolt. Obviously the spring 43 may be tensioned as desired to increase or release the tension on the smoothing blade as the condition of the road bed may require.

It is thought that a clear understanding of the construction, utility and advantages of an invention of this character will be had from the foregoing, and,

Having thus described the invention what is claimed is:-

I. In a road scraper, the combination with a mold board suitably supported from a vehicle, a blade carrying plate secured to the mold board at one side thereof, a plurality of cutting and scarifying blades secured to the blade carrying plate and spaced forwardly from said plate, said blades being also arranged in a longitudinal series and relatively spaced from one another, a single continuous smoothing blade following the first named blades, and resilient straps connecting the smoothing blade to the mold board for supporting the same in an upstanding forwardly inclined position.

2. A road scraper assembly consisting of a mold board, a plurality of relatively short individual blades arranged in a longitudinal series and secured in relatively spaced alignment to the front side of said mold board, a smoothing blade trailing the first named blade and resiliently secured to the rear side of the mold board, and at a forwardly inclined angle to the perpendicular, resilient means yieldably urging the smoothing blades forwardly and means for adjusting said resilient means.

3. In a road scraper, the combination with a mold board adapted to be supported from a vehicle, a plurality of cutting and scarifying blades supported by the mold board at the front side thereof and arranged in longitudinally spaced relation throughout substantially the length of the mold board, a single smoothing blade disposed rearwardly of the mold board resilient straps secured at one end to the mold board and at a relatively opposite end to said smoothing blade for supporting said smoothing blade in upstanding forwardly inclined position, and spring tensioning devices connected with the mold board and with said smoothing blade for regulating the tension on said smoothing blade, and said spring tension devices consisting respectively of a bolt secured to the rear face of the mold board, a guide bracket secured to the smoothing blade, said bolt extending through an aperture in said guide bracket, nut and washer means on the band of the bolt, and a spring disposed on the bolt between the Washer and said bracket.

FITCH H. BEACH. FRED S. BEACH. 

